Pool-table.



R BAILEY. POOL TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 1908.

Patentd Sept. 14,1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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R BAILEY.

POOL TABLE.

APPLICATION rum JUNE 4. 1908.

Patented Sept. 14, 1909.

2 slums-$112M a.

v V v I gvtmutoz v I 1 V I nn irn ss RALPH BAILEY, OF MARION, INDIANA, ASSIGNO R OF ONE-HALF 'IO FRED S. MAUIZ, OF MARION, INDIANA.

POOL-TABLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH Bi-iinny, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Grant and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Pool-T able, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in pool tables, and its object is to provide a means whereby the pool balls are caught and held in the pocket or pockets until it is desired by the player to relieve them and get them out of the way, thus saving annoyance in the tallying of the game, and also saving time and expense to the proprietor of a pool room.

The invention comprises suitable ball pockets each having a valve mechanism which will retain the balls until it is desir able that the balls be discharged from the pockets from which they may be conducted to a suitable receptacle.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of a pool table with the improvements attached thereto, and with parts broken away. Fig. 2 is an elevation of. one of the ball-receiving pockets on a larger scale than shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the pocket shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4C is an elevation of the upper end of the pool table.

' Referring to the drawing, there is shown a pool table 1 which may be taken as typical of any type of pool table and by no means confined to the particular type shown.

The table is provided with a suitable number of ball-receiving pockets 2, in the present instance there being indicated a ballreceiving pocket at each corner of the table and also one intermediate of the length of each of the longer sides of the table. The pockets 2 are generally cup-shaped and may be made of any suitable material. The bottom 3 of the cup is bent at an angle to the length of the cup and lies substantially horizontal and may underlie the top of the table for a short distance. The end of the extension 3 communicates with a conduit 4 of wood, metal, paper, leather or any other suitable material, and leading to a common junction boX 5 from which by another conduit 6 the balls are led to a suitable Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 4, 1908.

Patented Sept. 15%, 1909.

Serial No. 436,673.

receptacle 7 shown in Fi 1 or to a receptacle -3 shown in Fig. At the lower end of each cup 2 where it merges into the extension 3 there is fixed a valve member 8, the hinge connection being shown at 9. Projecting from the inactive face of the valve member 8 near the hinge 9 is an arm 10 provided with a longitudinal slot 1.1 through which projects a curved or cam finger 12 on one end of the rock-arm 13 extending up along one side of the cup extension 3, being suitably curved as indicated in Fig. 3 to embrace this portion of the cup, and at the upper end this arm 13 is fast on a rock-shaft 14 extending along the longer side of the pool table under the overhanging portion of the top thereof, or this rock shaft may be otherwise located, as may be found most convenient.

Fast on the rock-shaft 14: at one end there of where it projects beyond the corresponding cup 2, is another'rock-arm 15 normally pendent, as indicated in Fig. 2. Connected to the free end of the rock-arm 15 is a link 16, the other end of which is connected to one end of a rock-lever 17 mounted upon a suitable pivot pin 18 suitably supported on one of the shorter sides of the table about midway of its length. The outer end of the pivot pin 18 carries a handle 19, by means of which the rock-arm or lever 17 may be rotated an appropriate distance to actuate the rock-shaft 14 through the link 16 and rock-arm 15. There is a rock-shaft 14 along both longer sides of the-table, and each of these shafts, midway of its length, is bent outwardly to form a crank extension 20 passing through the slot 11 in the arm 10 of the valve 8 of the respective cup 2 located midway of the length of the table. Each cup 2 at its lower end where it merges into the extension 3 is cut away, as shown at 21, for the passage of the arm 10, and this cutaway portion is closed by the valve 8 when the latter is in its lowermost position.

When the table is in condition for playing then all the valves 8 are in their uppermost position and form the bottoms of the cup 2 so that any balls which may fall into the cup 2 from the table will be stopped by the respective valve in each cup. If, now, it is desired to release the balls held in the pockets the handle 19 is manipulated to cause the partial rotation of the lever 17 and this movement is transmitted through the link 1(3 and will cause the shafts 14 to turn appropriate distances on their axes. This turning movement of each shaft acts directly through the crank 20 on the valve 18 of the cup intermediate of the length of the side of the table, and these valves are moved on their pivots 9 until they rest within the openings 21, thus leaving the main body of the interior of the cups 2 in communication with the extension 3 and the conduits 4: leading therefrom. The end cups, however, are acted on by the rock-arms 13 and finger 12, which latter are so shaped that when the rock-arms 13 are moved together with the shaft 14 the valves are moved about their pivots 9 until they ultimately rest within the openings 21, and so the end cups have their interiors open to the conduit 4-. All of the cups 2 are, therefore, opened to the conduits 4 simultaneously, and any balls that remain in the cups will gravitate to the common compartment 5. The conduits 1 are given a slight slant so that the balls will readily gravitate toward the common receiver 5 and the conduit 6 leading from the said receiver 5 is also given a slight slant so that the balls will gravitate readily into the receptacle 7 By the present invention, provision is made for the retention of the balls in the pocket as long as it is desired, and for the discharge of the balls in the pocket to a common point of collecting the same without the necessity of separately handling the balls in each pocket.

This invention may be appended to. pool tables already in existence or may be built directly into tables when first constructed.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. In a pool table, a ball cup or pocket with a conduit forming a continuation thereof, a pivoted valve housed in the conduit and provided with a slotted arm, and a rock arm partly embracing the ball pocket and provided with a curved or cam finger engaging in the slot in the arm of the valve.

2. In a pool table, ball cups or pockets with a conduit forming a continuation of each cup or pocket, a pivot-ed valve housed in each conduit and provided with a slotted arm, and a rock shaft extending along the pool table and having rock arms, each arm partly embracing a ball pocket and provided with a curved or cam finger engaging in the slot in the arm on the respective valve, said rock shaft also having a crank portion engaging in the slotted arm on the valve of an intermediate pocket.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RALPH BAILEY.

WVitnesses JNo. P. CAMPBELL, CALVIN KNo'rT. 

